2007.01.27: January 27, 2007: Headlines: Directors - Shriver: Iraq: Speaking Out: the Tidings: Douglas W. Kmiec writes: In 2003 Eunice and Sargent Shriver made a special point of complimenting me for presenting the case for intervention in Iraq -- a point of pride then and of embarrassment now

Douglas W. Kmiec writes: In 2003 Eunice and Sargent Shriver made a special point of complimenting me for presenting the case for intervention in Iraq -- a point of pride then and of embarrassment now

In early 2003 a plausible case for intervention could be made. For more than a dozen years, the now-executed Saddam Hussein thumbed his nose at one U.N. resolution after another. What was he hiding? Few at the time thought it a charade. Few at the time were willing to take the risk. But it is 2007, and we know the justifications for the war were illusory. Whatever Saddam's motivations for bluffery, the weapons of mass destruction were not to be found. The 9/11 commission established the absence of a connection to al-Qaida. As for humanitarian intervention, well, the insurgency long since has wiped out the humanity of our assistance."

Our family did not receive its usual White House Christmas card this year. I know thousands of these are distributed, but I can't help feeling that the president may be frustrated with me for no longer supporting the war in Iraq.

I did support the war. Indeed, in the weeks leading up to the war my pastor in Washington, D.C., where we were then resident, asked me to present the case for intervention before the parish community. I agreed, though it was no easy task, as Sen. Ted Kennedy and his wife were fellow parishioners.

In early 2003 a plausible case for intervention could be made. For more than a dozen years, the now-executed Saddam Hussein thumbed his nose at one U.N. resolution after another. What was he hiding? Few at the time thought it a charade. Few at the time were willing to take the risk.

There also was some reason to believe --- and many of us surely wanted to find --- a connection between al-Qaida and Iraq. At least this would make terrorism somewhat explainable, though in 2007 we know it lacks even this thin veneer of explanation.

Finally, there was ethical justification: humanitarian intervention. Saddam was not above murdering his own people, and as one commentator summarized the teaching of the late John Paul II: "Arms must be silent whenever possible, and all peaceful avenues explored. But when the wayfarer is attacked by the evildoer, then the good Samaritans must intervene, including with force."

These justifications were more powerful than today's opponents are willing to concede or remember.

The day of my presentation, Kennedy's in-laws, Eunice and Sargent Shriver, made a special point of complimenting me for a case well made -- a point of pride then and of embarrassment now.

The reason for war having been established, there was every constitutional reason to support the president's exercise of war power. Article II of the Constitution denominates him commander-in-chief. The Congress by overwhelming margin had authorized use of military force in the most expansive terms. While there would be much Jesuitical argument that this fell short of a formal declaration of war, in truth and in history there have been few declared wars (five) and hundreds of military interventions.

The founders understood that this nation could resist external attack only by the unity of the presidency and "its energy and dispatch."

The president, having made his case, deserved the full range of that legal authority. The Supreme Court in the year just concluded was deeply mistaken to short-change him by giving credence to nonexistent habeas claims for the enemy or by deconstructing the president's well-conceived system of military commissions. Congress was right almost immediately to reverse the court. Did the president's actions prevent another 9/11? Who can say? Who would not have wanted those actions to be taken to find out?

But it is 2007, and we know the justifications for the war were illusory. Whatever Saddam's motivations for bluffery, the weapons of mass destruction were not to be found. The 9/11 commission established the absence of a connection to al-Qaida. As for humanitarian intervention, well, the insurgency long since has wiped out the humanity of our assistance.

The president's justification for escalating the Iraq war with an additional 22,000 troops is unconvincing. More, it is deeply disappointing. It manifests little respect for public sentiment and makes no genuine effort at convening a diplomatic summit with European and Middle Eastern nations that share the desire for a stable, peaceful Iraq.

However well-intentioned the initial intervention in Iraq may have been thought to be, and however noble the sacrifice made for those original intentions shall remain, the time for American troops to leave Iraq is now. If we return to rebuild in the company of the world community, Mr. President, you can count that as a victory.

Douglas Kmiec is professor of Constitutional Law and Caruso Family Chair in Constitutional Law at Pepperdine University's School of Law in Malibu.

Ron Tschetter in Morocco and JordanOn his first official trip since being confirmed as Peace Corps Director, Ron Tschetter (shown at left with PCV Tia Tucker) is on a ten day trip to Morocco and Jordan. Traveling with his wife (Both are RPCVs.), Tschetter met with volunteers in Morocco working in environment, youth development, health, and small business development. He began his trip to Jordan by meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and discussed expanding the program there in the near future.

Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace CorpsSenator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical ClearanceThe purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" againThe LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

PCOL readership increases 100%Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace CorpsPCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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Story Source: the Tidings

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